Callum Marshall blasted himself into Hatters hero status with a screamer better than his last, to see off Stockport County and for Luton to bounce back from their five-goal horror show at Mansfield with a victory.
It was the striker’s second goal in consecutive home games and the first was a belter, but this one has goal of the season written all over it. If anyone was under the illusion that his first against Notts County was in any way fortunate or a fluke, this top bins belter confirmed that the Hatters uncovered an arch marksman, who has wasted no time at all in settling in.
It’s the sort of sumptuous strike that you could watch again and again and again, as he found the top corner from 27 yards. He knew it had a postage stamp on it the moment it left his magic wand of a left foot. He’s set a high bar so far on home soil.
Manager Jack Wilshere called him a sports scientist’s “nightmare” for the amount of practice the frontman puts into finishing. And this one will give League One rivals sleepless nights, simply because there’s very little you can do to stop rockets like this. He doesn’t need much space, and he has a one-track mind – get the ball, shoot and run off celebrating.
It put breathing room between Luton and a top quality County side, who’d edged a tepid first half enlivened only by a Jack Diamond head-butt on George Johnston, that referee Craig Hicks didn’t spot as they tussled on the ground, and a stunning reaction save from Ollie Whatmuff to deny Nakhi Wells from point-blank range.
But after the restart Town came alive and Wells put the hosts in front after five minutes, with his third goal in three league games and fifth in total. He’s already reached half of his entire tally from last season in just six appearance.
And he loves netting against Stockport. His two at Wembley turned the tide against them in the Vertu Trophy final in April and this one was a poacher’s finish.
It owed a lot to the very impressive Harrison Ashby, who was one of five changes – three of them necessary – from the mauling in Mansfield, replacing Isaiah Jones and grasping the opportunity of his full home debut with both hands.
It was the Newcastle loan full back’s marauding run and cross that County keeper Whatmuff couldn’t deal with and Wells was there to steer it in, though he may not have known much about it. They all count.
Ollie Norwood curled a free-kick against Luton’s post in response, which might have changed the course the match had it gone in, but a first clean sheet in the league was preserved. Then it was Marshall’s moment.
“He knew it [was in],” said Wilshere of the strike, adding: “He was off celebrating. Genuinely, he practices all the time, so there’s no surprise.
“He’s in that situation 20 times after training, doing one-v-ones and finishing with his right foot.”
Marshall, who was one of the more undeserving changes from Sunday, perhaps should’ve had two after he twisted Ethan Pye inside out to get through on goal, but he strike, which was probably an easier finish than his goal, was pushed over the bar by Whatmuff.
Wilshere said of Marshall’s second chance: “I think actually the one on his right foot at the end was a really good save from the goalie. But I thought that was going to go in.”
It mattered little, as the Northern Irish international had a smile the size of Kenilworth Road as he walked around the pitch to take the deserved acclaim that will now become an early welcome outcome.
The transfer deadline day came and went the day before, with some fans calling for a frontman, among other wish-list items that were not fulfilled. There was never any need. Marshall has shown that Luton have got a goalscorer and he’s got a 100 per cent record at his new home. And long may that continue.
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